My Best Bro Got Bullied by Another Bad Woman Again - Chapter 30

“Mr. Sun, I’ve prepared an office for you. Once we get there, you’ll…”

Chang Wutong was too absorbed in her own thoughts to notice anything unusual. In truth, Sun Du had quietly used a small trick.

“Is it that braided girl?”

“Yes. Her name is Shino Genai. She’s an ordinary first-tier magical girl. On the surface, there’s nothing unusual about her… at least, that’s what everyone else thinks.”

“In Xiaoxiao’s eyes, she’s just a friend, right?”

“That’s what Xiaomei told me.”

Sun Du frowned thoughtfully.

“Then there’s an important piece of the puzzle Xiaoxiao doesn’t know. Otherwise, that girl’s behavior doesn’t make any sense.”

He had once asked Lu Xiaoxiao how the two had become friends. Lu Xiaoxiao’s answer had been simple—the girl had approached her first, they chatted for a while, and naturally became friends.

“Do you think Sister Xiao is hiding something?”

“I don’t think so. More likely, she genuinely doesn’t know. To her, Shino Genai is simply a slightly eccentric friend. Isn’t that exactly how she acts whenever she’s around Xiaoxiao?”

“…Yes.”

“No matter what, we can’t let her stay alone with you and Xiaoxiao. Here’s the plan. I’ll ask Dean Chang to distract me for a while. During that time, you should make her believe that my relationship with Xiaoxiao is unusually close. If possible, draw her hostility toward me.”

“Huh? Will… will that actually work?”

“Don’t worry. You’re already a third-tier magical girl. Besides, whether it works or not, we’ll know soon enough. And don’t tell me you still don’t understand why she dislikes you.”

“…Aren’t you worried about her?”

Sun Du chuckled.

“She may be deeply paranoid, but she’s never experienced a real battlefield. Madness alone isn’t enough to frighten someone who’s stared death in the face. If insanity alone could destroy the world, humanity wouldn’t still be standing here.”

“…Alright. I’ll try. Hopefully she won’t attack me in front of Xiaomei.”

“Good. I’ll leave the rest to you.”

With that, Sun Du resigned himself to the situation. Chang Wutong still hadn’t released his arm and was practically dragging him away.

He also confirmed something else.

Shino Genai… was still somewhat afraid of Chang Wutong.

That wouldn’t do.

She needed an opportunity to act.

Just as expected, the moment Chang Wutong pulled Sun Du away, Shino Genai hurried over from beneath the shade of a nearby tree.

Liu Nuanyu quietly returned inside the villa, where Lu Xiaoxiao had already finished unpacking.

“I’m done, Sister Liu. Aren’t you going back to your dormitory? Or are you commuting from home now?”

Since Wutong Academy was located on the outskirts of the city, students from ordinary families, like Lu Xiaoxiao, usually lived on campus.

Someone like Liu Nuanyu, however, could travel between home and school whenever she wished.

“I’ll put my luggage away later.”

She smiled, carefully hiding every trace of anxiety.

Mr. Sun was right.

Whether that girl truly intended to harm Lu Xiaoxiao remained uncertain.

But those eyes…

There was something dangerous hidden within them.

Liu Nuanyu decided she wouldn’t leave until either Shino Genai departed or Sun Du returned. As long as the girl didn’t resort to anything underhanded, she was confident she could handle the situation.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

Lu Xiaoxiao walked over and called out,

“Who is it?”

“It’s… me, Xiaoxiao. I heard you came back, so… I wanted to see you.”

A soft, timid voice answered from outside.

Lu Xiaoxiao immediately recognized it.

“Oh, Shino! Come in.”

She opened the door.

Standing outside was Shino Genai, who carefully stepped inside and bowed politely.

“Excuse me.”

What incredible acting, Liu Nuanyu thought with a silent scoff.

She had to admit it.

Shino’s innocent, timid act was flawless.

Fine.

If she wanted to put on a performance…

Liu Nuanyu was happy to play along.

“Oh? Shino-senpai. Long time no see.”

She greeted her with a warm smile.

The moment Shino saw her, she instinctively shrank back and hid behind Lu Xiaoxiao, who was actually shorter than she was.

“What’s wrong, Senpai? Am I really that scary?”

Keep pretending, Liu Nuanyu sneered inwardly.

You aren’t afraid of me at all. You’re only acting shy in front of Xiaomei.

Just remember—my backer is Inspector Sun. If you dare lay a finger on me, he’ll tie you to a tree.

“N-No… I’m sorry…”

Shino lowered her head.

“I… I’m just not very good with strangers.”

Her cheeks flushed as she stammered out the apology.

“Alright, alright.”

Lu Xiaoxiao smiled.

“Come inside and have a seat.”

She led both girls into the living room.

As Lu Xiaoxiao turned around, Liu Nuanyu caught a fleeting glimpse of resentment in Shino’s eyes.

The corner of Liu Nuanyu’s lips lifted slightly.

After Sun Du’s guidance, she was no longer blinded by fear or jealousy.

Looking back now, she felt embarrassed that she had once been intimidated by a younger girl.

Now…

It was time to settle the score.

“Sorry, we just moved in, so we don’t have much to offer.”

Lu Xiaoxiao took out a few tins of tea that Sun Du had brought.

“I’ll boil some water. Would you like black tea or green tea? Or…”

She examined the unfamiliar labels.

“‘Luohan,’ ‘Qingtanfeng,’ ‘Shuijiangyue’… What brands are these?”

“Anything is fine, Xiaomei.”

Liu Nuanyu forced a smile.

With Shino sitting across from her, she had no interest in tea whatsoever.

“M-Me too…”

Shino nodded timidly.

“Then let’s wait for the water to boil.”

Lu Xiaoxiao filled the kettle and walked into the kitchen.

The moment she turned her back…

The atmosphere changed.

Liu Nuanyu fixed Shino with a sharp, scrutinizing stare.

Under that gaze, Shino slowly lowered herself behind the table as though frightened.

Yet the anger burning in her eyes couldn’t be concealed.

Liu Nuanyu simply smiled back.

She wasn’t afraid anymore.

If it weren’t for the lack of concrete evidence—and Sun Du wanting to uncover the reason behind Shino’s obsessive attachment to Lu Xiaoxiao—she would have already asked him to arrest the girl.

Neither of them made a move.

Lu Xiaoxiao was still nearby.

The instant Lu Xiaoxiao turned back around…

Both girls’ expressions transformed simultaneously.

Smiles.

Polite.

Perfectly harmless.

“Alright.”

Lu Xiaoxiao looked between them.

“The water will be ready soon. Why don’t we chat for a while?”

She had no idea about the hostility between Liu Nuanyu and Shino Genai.

Nor did she know that Shino’s actions had indirectly led Liu Nuanyu to make such foolish decisions back in District One.

To Lu Xiaoxiao, they were simply two friends who happened to know each other.

If that was the case…

Perhaps talking together would help them become friends.

After all, back in high school, she’d become close friends with almost every boy in her dorm after only a few conversations.

Surely it wouldn’t be much different with girls…

Right?

Now…

What should they talk about?

Celebrities?

Campus gossip?

Horoscopes?

Handsome boys?

Unfortunately, Lu Xiaoxiao wasn’t very knowledgeable about any of those topics…

Unless the conversation happened to be about Sun Du.